Synthesis, characterization and study of luminescent Au/Ag and Au/Tl heterometallic compounds with mixed donor macrocyclic derivatives

Recently, compounds containing metallophilic interactions between gold (I) atoms and various metal ions having a "closed shell" electron configuration, [M = Cu(I), Ag(I), Tl(I), Pb(II), Hg(II), Bi(III), Sn(II)] have aroused considerable interest both in terms of theoretical aspects and their physicochemical properties and potential applications. In particular, the luminescence of these solid state compounds appears to be closely related to the presence of M···M 'interactions, to the disposition in the crystal structure of the metal ions interacting and to the nature of the ligands present. The objective of the doctoral project consists essentially in the synthesis and characterization of new polynuclear systems with metallophilic interactions and study of their photo-physical properties. In particular, it is intended to modulate both the nuclear and the structural arrangement of the interacting metal ions and the consequent luminescence properties through the use of macrocyclic ligands or appropriately functionalized macrocyclic systems having different donor atoms.